News Archive

Advice: no public transport after 8pm on New Year's Eve

What many visitors of Amsterdam don't know is that there is no public transport in the Netherlands between 8pm and midnight on New Year's Eve.Trains, buses, metros, ferries and trams in Amsterdam stop their services after 8pm.
The exception in Amsterdam is the [....]

Less trains in Netherlands due to snow expected on Saturday

The Dutch Railways will decrease the number of trains tomorrow (Saturday December 27), because of the expected snow.The measusre is intended to create 'space' in the timetable to deal with delays, because of the expected weather conditions.

Amsterdam launches information film about white heroin

The City of Amsterdam has published an official information film about the 'killer coke', the cocaine that is really heroin, and that caused three deaths in Amsterdam recently.It advises to ignore street dealers, to avoid any risks.
The film also explains the [....]

Amsterdam strikes tourist tax deal with AirBnB

The City of Amsterdam has made a tax deal with the apartment rental website Airbnb. Airbnb is going to levy tourist tax for all rentals in Amsterdam, and pay it to the City of Amsterdam.
It is the first such tax deal of Airbnb with a city outside the United [....]

Illuminade (Amsterdam Light Festival) walking tour open

The Illuminade (part of the Amsterdam Light Festival) has opened for the public.The Illuminade consists of a number of light art works, that are placed outside. In the information kiosk in front of the City Hall / Opera House (see map below) you can get a map with a [....]

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport now reachable by train every night

The new train schedule for 2015 (which started today) means Schiphol Airport is connected with Amsterdam every night.In the night, there is a train between Amsterdam Central Station and Schiphol Airport every hour. The connection is a direct connection and takes only [....]

Amsterdam starts selling test kits for white heroin

In Amsterdam it is now possible to buy cheap (E 2,-) test kits, to test if the cocaine you bought contains heroin.Recently, 3 tourists have died after using white heroin that was sold as cocaine, and 14 persons have been hospitalized (but survived).

Amsterdam sends alert to tourist cell phones about 'coke killer'

Amsterdam is stepping up its efforts to warn tourists to Amsterdam about the fake cocaine that is being sold, and which has caused 3 casualties up till now. Today the City of Amsterdam has sent out a mass text message to tourists' mobile phones, about the dangerous [....]

Two British tourists dead in Amsterdam due to fake cocaine

Two British tourist have been found dead in a hotel room in Amsterdam South. The Amsterdam health department put up electronic warning signpost in fron of Central Station.The police say it is likely they died of using white heroine, that was sold as cocaine.
Earlier [....]

Tonight 'Turn on the lights 2014' on Dam Square

Tonight at 7pm starts the traditional turning on of the holiday season illumination of the Bijenkorf department store, with a light show and street theatre.The will be accompanied by street theater company La Fura dels Baus.
'The turning on the lights' event is held [....]

More Michelin stars in Amsterdam for 6th year on a row

Today the yearly Michelin stars list for 2015 was published. It shows that Amsterdam keeps on getting more restaurants with a star, with more stars, every year for 6 years on a row.The 2010 Michelin guide listed 5 restaurants in Amsterdam, with 6 stars. Since then, [....]

Sinterklaas arrival 2014 November 16 (Sunday)

Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus, will arrive in Amsterdam again this Sunday (November 16).
The yearly Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam is the largest world-wide.Sinterklaas is an age-old Dutch tradition, at which children get presents. Sinterklaas is [....]

Flags half-mast because of MH17 commemoration service

Today is a national commemoration service for the victims of the MH17 plane crash of July 17.The service is held in the RAI Conference Center in Amsterdam, in the presence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.

Amsterdam health department warns against fake cocaine

The Amsterdam GGD (the health department) has issued a warning against buying cocaine from street dealers.About 10 tourists became sick after buying cocaine from street dealers. The GGD has found that some 'cocaine' is really white heroin. If you think you take [....]

Smoking prohibited in all pubs and bars in the Netherlands

As of today, a smoking ban has become effective for all pubs and bars in the Netherlands.Smoking was already prohibited in most places (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.), but an exception was made for small cafes without staff and a maximum floor space of 70 [....]

Third person dies after visiting ADE event

A 41-year old woman died after visiting the Amsterdam Dance Event. She is the third victim.She too probably died of drugs, possibly polluted XTC. The police have warned against polluted XTC, and advise that if you possess any XTC to either throw it away or have it [....]

Two ADE visitors died last night

Last night, 2 visitors of ADE events have died. They both probably died because of drugs use.One man from Serbia (aged 33) died after leaving Club Lite. The other victim was a 21-year old Dutch man who visited an ADE event in the Westergasfabriek grounds.

Amsterdam Dance Event 2014 this weekend in Amsterdam

Amsterdam will be the scene of numerous dance parties and events, this coming weekend.The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) has developed into the world's most important get-together for dance music.
Music creators from all over the world come to Amsterdam to meet, do [....]

Fou UberPop taxi drivers arrested in Amsterdam

Last weekend, 4 UberPOP drivers have been arrested in Amsterdam, while they offered taxi services deemed illegal.Taxi drivers in Amsterdam need to have a license, and UberPOP drivers don't have a license. The taxi app UberPop (part of Uber) provides a platform for [....]

Today start of 'Drie Dwaze Dagen' 2014 in Bijenkorf department store

Today is the start of the 'Drie Dwaze Dagen' in the Bijenkorf department store.Drie Dwaze Dagen ('Three Crazy Days') is a yearly shopping event in the Bijenkorf department stores. Every day there are special discounts on many items, and like every every year the [....]

New museum Micropia opened on new square Artisplein in Amsterdam

Today, Queen Máxima opened the new museum Micropia, in Artis Zoo in Amsterdam. The museum is located on a new square, Artisplein, given to the city by Artis Zoo.Micropia is about the invisible life on and in your bodies: microbes, bacteria, viruses etc. Micropia [....]

Sofia Asgari was a sensation on 'Holland's Got Talent', and now she will perform in Amsterdam, on September 20.September 20 is the second edition of the free open-air classical music festival 'Klassiek op het Amstelveld'.
One of the main performances will be by the [....]

This weekend Uitmarkt Amsterdam 2014, opening of the culture season

Friday evening, August 29, is the start of the annual Uitmarkt Amsterdam, which celebrates the start of the cultural season.The Uitmarkt consists of many (samples) of shows that are scheduled for the new season. These shows are in principle all for free (this means [....]

Tonight 30th edition of open-air Prinsengracht Concert

Today is the traditional main event of the Grachten Festival: the open-air concert in the Prinsengracht, near the Pulitzer hotel.On a floating pontoon in the canal, the Georgian violonist Lisa Batiashvili and her husband the French hobo player François Leleux will [....]

First Prada shop in the Netherlands opens in Amsterdam P.C. Hooftstraat

The first Prada shop of the Netherlands has opened in Amsterdam, in the P.C. Hooftstraat.At last, the fashionistas will be able to buy Prada clothes and accessories in Amsterdam, at the corner of P.C.Hooftstraat and Honthorstraat (P.C. Hooft number 63H to be [....]

New luggage storage service in Amsterdam

Since a few weeks, you can not only store your luggage at the Central Station of Amsterdam, but there is also DropandGo.The service appears to be an instant success. Tourists can leave their luggage here while they are waiting to check in their accommodation, or [....]

Victoria Amazonica flowers this evening in Amsterdam Hortus Botanicus

The famous water lily Victoria Amazonica flowers this evening, in the Amsterdam Hortus Botanicus.For the occasion, the botanical garden is open from 7 to 11 pm. The Hortus only knows the afternoon before when the Victoria will flower, and not always is it possible to [....]

Today 19th edition of Amsterdam Gay Pride Canal Parade

Today (August 2) is the most important event of the Amsterdam Gay Pride Week, the Canal Parade.The parade is a long line of 80 decorated boats, each with their own theme. The parade follows the route along the entire Prinsengracht (starting at the West-side of the [....]

Uber launches 50% cheaper taxi service in Amsterdam

Uber launches UberPOP in Amsterdam today. It says prices will be 50% lower than regular taxis.Uber works with an app on smartphones, to connect taxi drivers with taxi clients. It operates worldwide and has been active on the Dutch market since 2012.

Dutch government declares Wednesday National Day of Mourning

For the first time since 1962, the Dutch government has announced a National Day of Mourning.The Day of Mourning is for the victims of the flight MH17, that crashed in Ukraine four days ago, costing the lives of all 293 people on board, of which 193 Dutch [....]

Flags half mast in Amsterdam because of plane crash

Because of the crash of flight MH17 yesterday, the Dutch government has asked to fly the Dutch flag half mast on government buildings.Yesterday, a Malaysian Airlines plane, that departed from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, was shot down over Ukraine. All passengers and [....]

Thunderstorm in Amsterdam takes life

The heavy thunderstorm that went over Amsterdam around 3am last night, has cost a life.A man was hiding for the weather at a tram stop on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, near the Royal Palace at Dam Square, when the lightning hit a tree. The tree fell over, on the tram [....]

Mega screen shows match Holland-Argentina on Arenapark

The soccer match Netherlands-Argentina will be shown on a mega tv screen after all, but not in the centre of Amsterdam.The location will be the ArenaPark, which is located close to the Amsterdam Bijlmer train/metro station.

OV-chipcard obligatory for all public transport in Holland

As of tomorrow, July 9 2014, travelling by train in the Netherlands is only possible with an OV-chipcard. This was already the case on buses, trams and metros, so now the OV-chipcard is the only option for all public transport in the Netherlands.The OV-chipcard has a [....]

Additonal security check at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

From Tuesday 8 July, passengers taking direct flights to the United States will be subject to an additional screening of electronic devices in their hand luggage. Electronic devices have to be taken out of their protective sleeves and switched on. Electronic devices [....]

Amsterdam will place new 'The Fault in Our Stars' bench

The movie 'The Fault in Our Stars' is so popular that Amsterdam has announced it will replace the bench along Leidsegracht that plays a role in the film. The bench that is used in the movie has disappeared, and nobody knows where it went.
The bench is [....]

Another Song contest celebrity visits Amsterdam Gay Pride: Dana International

The Israeli pop star Dana International will be on the Jewish boat in the 2014 Amsterdam Gay Pride canal tour.She won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest with her transvestite act. The winner of the 2014 Contest (Conchita Wurst) also will be on one of the boats in de [....]

Tonight last time large tv screen with soccer match on Museumplein

Tonight at 6pm will be the World Champion soccer match Netherlands - Mexico. On Museumplein square there will be a large tv-screen again, and that will be the last time.On Museumplein square will be a large tv screen where the match will be shown. This will be the [....]

'Girl with a pearl earring' back in Mauritshuis Den Haag

Today the museum the Mauritshuis in Den Haag (The Hague) will be re-opened, after a long renovation.The Mauritshuis' most famous painting is 'Het Meisje met de parel' ('Girl with a pearl earring' by Johan Vermeer.
During the 2-year renovation of the Mauritshuis, [....]

Bomb alert on Amsterdam Dam Square

The department store De Bijenkorf and Dam Square have been evacuated after a bomb alert.First, the department store de Bijenkorf (where the bomb threat came in) was evacuated around 3.30pm. Then, the evacuation zone was expanded by the police to cover the whole of [....]

Conchita Wurst attends Amsterdam Gay Pride 2014

Conchita Wurst, the Austrian winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, will be guest on one of the boats of the Amsterdam Gay Pride.The main event of Amsterdam Gay Pride is the Gay Pride boat parade through the canals of Amsterdam. In 2014, this will be held on [....]

Amsterdam city cleaners on strike for 3 days

City cleaners in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Groningen are on strike from today until Wednesday.Thursday they will start work again. Garbage will not be collected during the strike, litter bins on the street not emptied and the streets will not be cleaned.

Large tv screen on Museumplein for soccer World Championship

The World Championship matches in which the Dutch team plays will be shown on a large tv screen on Museumplein, just like in 2010.Tonight at 9pm (Friday June 13) will be the first match played by the Dutch soccer team in Brazil, against Spain.

Premiere in Amsterdam of Anne Frank play in presence of HRH Willem-Alexander

The world premiere of the stageplay 'Anne' has taken place yesterday evening, in the presence of King Willem-Alexander, and of Buddy Elias (88 years old), a nephew of Anne Frank and the only still surviving member of the Frank family.The play is about the life of [....]

Cleaners' strike interrupted on Amsterdam Central Station

The Amsterdam Central Station will be cleaned today, despite the fact there's a strike by the cleaners going on.The reason is that today is May 4, Remembrance Day, the day the victims of World War II are commemorated. A lot of visitors of the ceremony on Dam Square [....]

May 4 and 5 2014 Amsterdam (Commemoration Day and Liberation Day)

On May 4, the victims of the Second World War (and all subsequent wars) are commemorated throughout the Netherlands.
May 5 is Liberation Day: on May 5 1945, the German Nazi regime capitulated, and Holland was officially liberated.The main national ceremony for the [....]

No real problems on busy first King's Day 2014 in Amsterdam

Although 2014 had the first King's Day, as 2013 had the last Queen's Day, it was business as usual in Amsterdam - very orange and very busy.This year, the dance parties were organized on several locations just outside the city center. The idea was to take the [....]

Record number of visitors for Amsterdam Rijksmuseum 2013

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam received 2.7 million visitors in 2013. This is an all time record for the museum.The result is spectacular, because the management expected about 1.5 million visitors. The previous year record for the Rijksmuseum dates from 1975 with 1.4 [....]

Controversy about Anne Frank play

Ronald Leopold, director of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, has said that the new Anne Frank play is distasteful.'Anne', the new stageplay about Anne Frank is due to have its premiere on May 8, in the brand new theatre Theater Amsterdam, [....]

Italian tourist jumps before bus after use of 'magic mushrooms'

A 21-year old Italian man jumped before a bus in the centre of Amsterdam (at Rokin) last week.He died after the bus drove over the man. His girlfriend saw the accident happen. The bus driver was very shocked and may get psychological support.

Tonight start of summertime (daylight saving time) 2014

Today, Daylight Saving Time ('Zomertijd') 2014 will start in the Netherlands, and throughout the rest of Europe.At 2am in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clocks are moved forward one hour, to 3am. This will happen in all member states of the European Union [....]

Open Tower Day Amsterdam

On Saturday March 29, there will be the Open Tower Day. Nineteen high buildings will be open for the public for free.The list includes modern (ABN Bank head office) as well as old towers (Old Church, Westerkerk, Zuiderkerk).

New night ferry connection NDSM-wharf and Amsterdam Central Station

A new night ferry connection over the IJ river has started: the Nachtelijk Westveer. It connects the NDSM-wharf with Amsterdam Central Station.The night ferry has been initiated because there are now several restaurants and cafes that are open after midnight. The [....]

Van Gogh Museum closed on March 24 because of visit President Obama

President Obama will visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on March 24 in the morning.Because of the presidential visit, strict security measures will apply. The Rijksmuseum will be closed on Monday, until 1pm.
As the President will arrive by helicopter on the [....]

Social Democrats lose Amsterdam after 68 years

The local elections of March 19 have led to a spectacular result in Amsterdam: for the first time in the 68 years' existence of the PvdA (the Dutch Social Democrats), the PvdA is not the biggest party in the Dutch capital.The big winner of the 2014 local elections is [....]

New ferry connection Amsterdam East - Amsterdam North

Starting March 16, there is a new ferry connection over the river IJ, which connects Java island / KNSM island with Amsterdam North.The ferry, called 'Oostveer' is an experiment of 1 year, to see if it is successful.
The ferry is operated by the GVB, is accessible [....]

New 'Anne Frank' theater gets advanced translation system

The brand new Theater Amsterdam, specially built for the stageplay 'Anne', will get a sophisticated translation system for foreign spectators.Foreign spectators get a tablet with a headphone on request, with which they can follow what is being said on stage. The play [....]

President Obama visits Amsterdam on March 24

President Barack Obama of the United States will visit Amsterdam on March 24.The visit takes place just before the Nuclear Security Summit that will be held on March 24 and 25 in The Hague.
Many government leaders from all over the world will attend the summit, [....]

New name for Amsterdam Muziektheater

The opera house of Amsterdam, the Muziektheater, has changd its name into 'Nationale Opera & Ballet'.The reason is a merger of the Nederlandse Opera, the Nationale Ballet and the Muziektheater as of January 1. The Nederlandse Opera has been renamed to Nationale [....]

Amsterdam allows renting homes to tourists

Amsterdam has given in to the growing pressure of the market: home owners are now allowed to rent out their apartment to tourists.Amsterdam has long been fighting the phenomenon of people renting out their apartment(s) to tourists. This was a problem because, [....]

P+R parking Amsterdam to 1 Euro per 24 hours

Starting February 12, the P+R parking rate is only 1 Euro per 24 hours, if you park after 10am.The rate of 1 Euro per 24 hours applies only if you enter before 10am on working days, or in the weekend.
If you enter after 10am on a working day, you pay E 8 for the [....]

Big names on new Amsterdam Jazz Festival

The South East Jazz Festival has changed and grown into the Amsterdam Jazz Festival. It will be held on June 7, 2014.The Amsterdam Jazz Festival will be held in, and organized by, the Amsterdam Arena (holds max. 50,000 spectators). The Arena's main [....]

Zaanse Schans suffocated by tourism?

Inhabitants of the famous open-air 'museum' Zaanse Schans complain about the increasing number of visitors.The Zaanse Schans is a village that consists of a collection of historic windmills and other historic buildings. Other than some people expect, [....]

Exhibition 50 years Barbie in Museum of Bags and Purses

An exhibition to celebrate 50 years of the Barbie doll has opened in the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam.Fifty Barbies, dating from 1960 to 2010, will be shown in the exhibition. Throughout the years she has been a reflection of the times, displaying trends in [....]

Coffeeshop the Grasshopper can no longer sell soft drugs

The Grasshopper, one of the most well-known coffeeshops in Amsterdam, is no longer allowed to sell marihuana.The coffeeshop, located in a prestigious old building close to the Central Station, was visited a lot by tourists, for whom it is one of the first coffeeshops [....]

Body Worlds new attraction in Amsterdam

After two temporary exhibtions in Amsterdam, the Body Worlds exhibition has now settled in Amsterdam permanently.Close to the Central Station, on Damrak, the exhibition that became world-famous with its dissected human bodies has found a permanent location.
Today [....]

Amsterdam Zuidoost no longer separate place name

As of 1 January 2014, one source of confusion has been solved: all Amsterdammers now live in Amsterdam.The municipality of Amsterdam consists of two areas. Amsterdam proper and the South East part of Amsterdam (with neighbourhoods Bijlmer, Gaasperdam, [....]

Light My Ride parade in Amsterdam

On Thursday January 9, there will be a parade of illuminated bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, in short any unmotorized vehicle in the centre of Amsterdam.The parade is part of the Amserdam Light Festival.

Amsterdam theater Melkweg cancels show due to anti-gay lyrics

The famous pop theater De Melkweg (near Leidseplein) announced it has cancelled a performance (March 16, 2014) by the Jamaican reggae musician Sizzla.By cancelling the show, De Melkweg adopts another policy than in 2012, when protest by gay organizations against the [....]

Christmas tree bonfire on Museumplein

Sunday January 5, 5pm, a big pile of christmas trees will be burnt on Museumplein (behind the Rijksmuseum).People can bring christmas trees for the pile from 4pm, near the skating rink behind the Rijksmuseum.